Review #84: A Tale of Three Brawns
2008 Universe Legends Class Brawn, 2016 Titans Return
Titan Master Class Brawn, and 2017 Titans Return Legends Class Brawn
After all the time it took me to write the three reviews I needed to get through to talk about my Classics God Prime, I needed a break. "For my next review," I thought, "I should do something simple. A small figure." So, what do I end up doing? I pick a small figure. And then realize that there is another small figure I have that would go well with it. And then realize, "You know what? I never reviewed the older version of that figure I have. No time like the present, I suppose."
A simple review. A small figure. Ha ha ha. Well, let us get started, shall we?
A simple review. A small figure. Ha ha ha. Well, let us get started, shall we?
It certainly isn't bad in vehicle mode. Brawn is a green SUV, and this toy is a green SUV. One of Brawn's distinctive features on the G1 toy was a fifth tire on the roof. This toy doesn't have one on the roof, likely as it would interfere with the transformation, but instead it has a tire on the back.
This figure has been augmented with a Reprolabels sticker set. The main difference it makes in vehicle mode is making all of the windows black, rather than leaving the side rear windows and the back windows unpainted green. It doesn't sound like much, but it makes a world of difference.
Now, on to robot mode!
This figure has been augmented with a Reprolabels sticker set. The main difference it makes in vehicle mode is making all of the windows black, rather than leaving the side rear windows and the back windows unpainted green. It doesn't sound like much, but it makes a world of difference.
Now, on to robot mode!
Robot mode makes for a good looking if simplistic Brawn figure. But again, this was average for a 2008 Legends Class figure. He looks really good from the front, not too bad from the back, and just looks like an unfolded SUV from the side.
Reprolabels add a few nice touches to this mode, as well, giving him a nicer faction symbol and detailing on his belly, groin, and around his knees. His articulation is average for a 2008 Legends figure, which means, alas, if a transformation joint happens to work for his poseability as well, then it is a good day for you. He has ball joints in his shoulders which allow for full rotation and a bit of outward movement. He has ball jointed hips which allow for good forward, backwards, and outward movement. And his knees... well, they need to bend a certain way for transformation, so that is how they bend. Alas, this means that they bend backwards! So if you want to pose your Brawn as if he has broken legs, this is the Brawn for you! Otherwise, there aren't knee joints in this figure. |
So, is this a great figure? No! But it is a good figure for its time, and for about nine years, he had a place on my shelf. And while I wouldn't have minded a better one, I was content with this Brawn. But would a better Brawn come around?
In the Titans Return line, the big gimmick was compatibility with the Headmaster, er, Titan Master figures. We have looked at Leader Class figures via Optimus Prime (before Perfect Effect got rid of his Titan Master compatibility) and Godbomber. Now let us look at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Typical size classes have been Leader, Voyager, Deluxe, and Legends, in descending order of size. Titans Return added a new smaller size class, the Titan Master Class. This size class, retailing for about $5, gives you a Titan Master figure without its own body, but instead with a little vehicle for it to interact with. At first, I was dubious. "Headmaster heads without bodies? What the heck is the point of that?" Even after seeing reviews online, my thoughts were unchanged. Then I saw some in stores, and at $5, it was an impulse buy. Why the heck not? |
Titans Return of course brought back many characters who were Headmasters in G1, but it also took other G1 characters and made them into Headmasters even if they hadn't been previously. We already saw this with Optimus and Godbomber. Similarly, characters such as Blur, Galvatron, Blaster, Soundwave, Six Shot, and many more were suddenly able to have their heads ripped off and turned into little robots.
Then there were a few established characters who were included in this Titan Master class. Such as Brawn. So he is basically reduced to being a headless body. But we are getting ahead of ourselves a wee bit. First, we need to look at Brawn's vehicle mode.
Then there were a few established characters who were included in this Titan Master class. Such as Brawn. So he is basically reduced to being a headless body. But we are getting ahead of ourselves a wee bit. First, we need to look at Brawn's vehicle mode.
Vehicle mode is kind of an SUV. More of a regular Jeep, actually. Except, rather than wheels, this Jeep has two triple‑wheeled treads on each side. This is one heck of an all terrain vehicle! It is worth noting that the wheels are purely aesthetic, and do not function at all. At this small a scale, however, I will let that pass.
The Titan Master figure integrates into the vehicle by making up the roof of the Jeep. It isn't seamless, but it looks okay to the naked eye since these are very small figures. (The gaps in the vehicle mode are much more obvious when looking at big close photos of it!)
There is a lot of nice detailing in the mold that is, alas, somewhat lost as there is very little paint on this vehicle. (Fortunately for you, this detailing is also much more obvious when looking at big close photos of it!)
Pulling the Titan Master off, we can now look at it in robot mode.
The Titan Master figure integrates into the vehicle by making up the roof of the Jeep. It isn't seamless, but it looks okay to the naked eye since these are very small figures. (The gaps in the vehicle mode are much more obvious when looking at big close photos of it!)
There is a lot of nice detailing in the mold that is, alas, somewhat lost as there is very little paint on this vehicle. (Fortunately for you, this detailing is also much more obvious when looking at big close photos of it!)
Pulling the Titan Master off, we can now look at it in robot mode.
We've already looked at a few Titan Master figures with the frequently forementioned Powermaster Optimus Prime and Godbomber. Titan Masters are all kind of the same basic robot with cosmetic differences, so we see much of the same here. One big difference here is that this is the first Hasbro one we're looking at, and we can see Hasbro's strange aversion to paint on these little guys. It really is a shame, as he has some really good detail molded onto him giving him a half-way decent Brawn look, including a head based on Brawn's G1 toy design. But at this scale, again a lot of this detail is lost when not looking at up-close photos of him.
Articulation is standard for a Titan Master figure. The head is on a ball joint. Shoulders are also on a ball joint, but you don't get much movement past 90° upwards and slightly outwards. Legs, which are one connected piece, can swivel forward at the hips and both ways at the knees.
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So, what do we do with his vehicle accessory? Why, it transforms, too! It becomes a different vehicle, this one for the Titan Master to ride as a robot. So little Titan Master Brawl gets himself some sort of what I guess must be a hover‑bike.
There are two pegs inside of the vehicle that correspond with two peg holes on the bottom of the Titan Master's feet.
The Titan Master vehicle has one additional mode, in that it becomes a weapon for larger figures to wield. Before we can look at that, however, how about we look at a larger figure? After all, while this is a fun little figure (and my impulse buy ended up selling me on getting more Titan Master Class figures), it wasn't a figure that was going to be the Brawn in my collection. So the 2008 Brawn was safe... for a little longer, at least...
There are a few characters, such as Optimus Prime or (in the dark times of the first few live action films) Bumblebee, who will have multiple figures released of them across multiple size classes in a short span of time. Then there are most other characters who, frankly, even if they are awesome are lucky if they get one figure in a span of years.
Brawn is one of that second sort of characters. So, imagine the fandom's surprise when rumors of another Brawn figure started circulating. Another Brawn? But we just had one. Surely not! But not long after, sure enough, another Brawn started showing up on pegs in store shelves. This one, like the 2008 one, was a Legends Class figure. But the Legends Class has come a long way since 2008. |
This is a nice looking figure in vehicle mode. It's a tough looking SUV. And, unlike the 2008 figure, the spare tire is back on the roof like on the G1 figure.
Silver Sharpie had a bit of fun with my copy of this figure. I colored in the hubcaps, which came out okay (better looking in person), and the three little circles on the back of the figure, which came out great.
The back end cap with the tire is actually a separate piece so that it can become a hand held accessory in robot mode. It gives you a few options in vehicle mode, as well, however. First, you can leave it off entirely. There is sculpted detail underneath, so it still looks like you have a complete (if slightly less Brawn-ish) vehicle if the cap is not in place. (Not that I intend to do so, but that will also be handy for people if this piece is ever lost!) Secondly, you can peg it into the peg hole on the roof of the vehicle and have it facing the other way, making those three circles I colored in either (depending on how you wish to imagine it) search lights or missile launchers.
Silver Sharpie had a bit of fun with my copy of this figure. I colored in the hubcaps, which came out okay (better looking in person), and the three little circles on the back of the figure, which came out great.
The back end cap with the tire is actually a separate piece so that it can become a hand held accessory in robot mode. It gives you a few options in vehicle mode, as well, however. First, you can leave it off entirely. There is sculpted detail underneath, so it still looks like you have a complete (if slightly less Brawn-ish) vehicle if the cap is not in place. (Not that I intend to do so, but that will also be handy for people if this piece is ever lost!) Secondly, you can peg it into the peg hole on the roof of the vehicle and have it facing the other way, making those three circles I colored in either (depending on how you wish to imagine it) search lights or missile launchers.
There haven't been any repaints of this figure yet, but the options that the removable cap presents has me looking forward to seeing what they might do. A Classics style Outback figure would sure be appreciated!
Before going onto Robot mode, there is one other thing to talk about here. As mentioned, in the Titans Return toyline, interactivity with the Titan Master figures was a key component to the whole line. The Titan Master Class was, of course, Titan Masters themselves. Deluxe Class and above used the Titan Masters as their heads. Leader Class and above would also become bases for the Titan Master figures to inhabit. So, what do Legends Class figures do? Why, they have compartments that Titan Master figures can ride in!
Before going onto Robot mode, there is one other thing to talk about here. As mentioned, in the Titans Return toyline, interactivity with the Titan Master figures was a key component to the whole line. The Titan Master Class was, of course, Titan Masters themselves. Deluxe Class and above used the Titan Masters as their heads. Leader Class and above would also become bases for the Titan Master figures to inhabit. So, what do Legends Class figures do? Why, they have compartments that Titan Master figures can ride in!
"Honey! I've got a little Brawn in my Brawn!" Or, to repeat a joke that has been made over and over in various Transformers forums since the Legends Class figure's release: Brawn-ception! (Insert "BRAAAM!" noise here.)
And remember I mentioned that the Titan Master's accessory vehicle could become a weapon for larger figures to wield? Well, look at that! Legends Brawn has a big ol' peg hole on his roof. Shall we see about getting the most bang for our double Brawn buck?
And remember I mentioned that the Titan Master's accessory vehicle could become a weapon for larger figures to wield? Well, look at that! Legends Brawn has a big ol' peg hole on his roof. Shall we see about getting the most bang for our double Brawn buck?
But for the moment, let us put the Titan Master back aside and return to just the Legends Class figure as we move onto its robot mode.
The cap with the fifth wheel can plug onto the figure's back, which kind of emulates the placement of it on his G1 toy. Or, you can take that piece and give it to Brawn to hold, either in his hand as a weapon or on his forearm as a shield.
This is quite a well articulated little Brawn. His head is on a swivel. His arms are on ball joints and have an additional joint in them, intended for transformation, which adds some extra expressiveness. The elbows are also ball joints, which double as an upper arm swivel. No waist, alas, but ball jointed hips, an upper leg swivel, and great knees. You can get some nice poses out of this guy.
The Legends Class figures cannot use Titan Masters as their heads, which almost seems a bit of a shame here since there is a Brawn Titan Master! The Titan Master head would probably look a bit big on him, but it could have been a fun option to do just because you could. However, the Legends Class figure does have an interesting quirk to it where Titan Master compatibility is concerned.
Other Legends Class Titans Return figures, some of which I am sure we will look at eventually, do have compartments for Titan Masters to sit in in vehicle mode. But these compartments end up collapsing, coming apart, or otherwise disappearing during the transformation process. With Brawn, however, his pilot compartment stays completely intact even after the figure is transformed into robot mode. Thus, you can stick the Titan Master inside of there and it is almost as if the Legends Class Brawn is a piloted mech that the little Titan Master Brawn is driving.
The Legends Class figures cannot use Titan Masters as their heads, which almost seems a bit of a shame here since there is a Brawn Titan Master! The Titan Master head would probably look a bit big on him, but it could have been a fun option to do just because you could. However, the Legends Class figure does have an interesting quirk to it where Titan Master compatibility is concerned.
Other Legends Class Titans Return figures, some of which I am sure we will look at eventually, do have compartments for Titan Masters to sit in in vehicle mode. But these compartments end up collapsing, coming apart, or otherwise disappearing during the transformation process. With Brawn, however, his pilot compartment stays completely intact even after the figure is transformed into robot mode. Thus, you can stick the Titan Master inside of there and it is almost as if the Legends Class Brawn is a piloted mech that the little Titan Master Brawn is driving.
And, of course, if you want to have the full Titan Master interactivity going on, take the accessory vehicle and put it in its weapon mode and give it to Legends Brawn to wield. This has the bonus of not only still letting him have a gun to hold if he is using his own accessory as a forearm shield, but making it a huge freaking gun that Brawn is probably really happy to be wielding.
So, is this a great Brawn? Yes, it is. It not only blows the 2008 figure out of the water, but it raises the quality of the Titan Master figure by giving it someone specific to interact with, as well. So the 2017 Legends Class Brawn has replaced the 2008 version as the main Brawn in my collection. (Don't worry, the 2008 one still has a home, sitting on a windowsill with some other older Legends Class figures.)
Two last pictures to look at. One of them takes a look at the Titan Master's head mode being used as a head by a Deluxe Class figure. Honestly, I usually prefer just leaving figures with the heads they are supposed to have, but this is a fun option that gives added playability to the entire Titans Return toyline. The second is the usual size comparison photo of all three figures being reviewed today standing with a standard sized DVD case. (I'm going with Revenge of the Nerds, in honor of Bernie Casey.)
Two last pictures to look at. One of them takes a look at the Titan Master's head mode being used as a head by a Deluxe Class figure. Honestly, I usually prefer just leaving figures with the heads they are supposed to have, but this is a fun option that gives added playability to the entire Titans Return toyline. The second is the usual size comparison photo of all three figures being reviewed today standing with a standard sized DVD case. (I'm going with Revenge of the Nerds, in honor of Bernie Casey.)
So, the 2008 figure? Good for its time, but definitely obsolete. The 2016 Titan Master figure? Seems like an odd idea on paper, but quite fun once you have him. The 2017 Legends Class figure? Probably the best Brawn we'll ever get unless they ever get around to giving him the Masterpiece treatment. Both Titans Return figures are highly recommended.
One little bit of personal business, if you will indulge me. I dedicate this review to my father, Heidi Atanian, who passed away this past Monday. I love you, dad. Review added 22 September 2017 by Yotsuya. Comments are welcomed. |